Tell me about ALDI

[hmcfall711]

Ok, we have had one for quiet awhile where I live but just made it there today for the first time. I've heard it is a great budget saver, but I did not see much difference in the prices compared to buying the other store's house brands (which is what we typically do).

I think the fresh produce was probably the biggest difference but it was VERY limited in selection.

Sell me on this store or tell me what I am doing wrong. I went with high hopes but now I am . I really wanted this to be the AhHa perfect store.

 

[shopn24seven]

When I went there a few yrs ago, they did have some good prices, NO FRILLS, box ur own SOME name brands,

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

if you need chicken wings they are the best place to get them. They are good and the price is good. And the bread, and produce are good too.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I really like our Aldi's. They are still a bit lower in price than the store brands. I have specifics that I buy each time. I like the idea that the prices are low enough that I do not have to spend the time to cut coupons on some of the items that I purchase.. These are the items that I buy religously:

Smoked almonds
One chocolate bar (chocolate from germany)
Nacho chips (like doritos)
EVOO
Plain Olive oil
Vanilla
Fruit Snacks
Sour Cream
Red beans and rice
Basmati Rice
Flour tortillas
Corn tortillas
Lemon juice
Ketchup
Mustard
Spices
Tuna
Juice boxes (both 100% juice and regular)
Paper towels
Turkey Ham
cheese depending on store prices for better brands
Canned veggies
Tomato sauce
Generic Rotel
Stewed tomatoes
Dried fruit
Single stuffed chicken (think chicken cord-n-blue)
English muffins
12 grain bread (really not a good source of fiber, but tastes good)
And we look for markdowns through-out

Aldi's has a 100% guarantee, so if you don't like an item, they will refund you your money.

 

[eyes4eeyore]

we just started shopping at Aldi's. We've found the cat litter to work just as well as the name brand kind and it's a TON cheaper! Also, the Moose Tracks ice cream, milk, OJ, bread and a 5.99 pizza are things we've found that we like and seem like a good deal. Oh, and like you said...the produce is a deal too.

 

[MarthaJr.]

I, too, went for the 1st time a few weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food. I found that this is the place to go to stock up on baking items, pasta and ice cream. I was a bit disappointed with the produce selection, but I went on a Saturday--might have been picked over.

I will use Aldi's as a "pantry stocking option".

 

[hockeyprincess]

I will say, our Aldi produce selection used to be slim pickins, but over the years (1-2 years) it has picked up tremendously and now we have a large produce selection! So don't discount that.... may be something they have to work up to due to total store sales or something? Don't know, just guessing.

I buy quite a bit there, including what previous posters have mentioned, as well as: salsa, all kinds of chips, tortilla, nacho & cool ranch chips (think Doritos), blue corn chips, BBQ chips, sour cream & chives chips.... jello & pudding, canned fruit & veggies (really LOVE their Fit line of products, can't recall the name right now, but something with Fit in it...someone here will know!), bread, shredded cheese, cottage cheese, hormone free milk, cereal (all kinds, from kiddo brands to mom & dad brands LOL), beef stew (think Dinty Moore), all taco items, including shells, soft shells, refried beans, etc. meat can be found, especially stew meat, for $2 off the package price, which is a steal, bread, yogurt, frozen items such as dinner entrees (Chicken & Cheese Enchalada meal with spanish rice is wonderful & is 2 meals for my family), burritos, pot pies, chicken nuggets & various french fries, I could go on and on.

I have saved a TON by shopping Aldi and I really like shopping there! I still go to the regular store (ie Meijer in my area) and use sales/coupons to save even more, but I do love Aldi & shop there weekly or bi-weekly depending on how much I need.

 

[mom of princessx2]

Fit and Active!!! and it is the only Ranch salad dressing my dd will eat. I also get there French dressing and use their Italian dressin for marinade. I buy bagels, cheese, noodles, tomato sauce, mushrooms, totillas, dried fruit, yogurt raisins, yogurt, etc. They always have name brand specials or ethnic specials. I think right now it is Italian foods in which the anise Pizelles are great.

 

[MarilIncredible]

I have only been in one Aldi store and it was a DUMP. I am not inclined to drive almost 20 miles to check out the one closest to me now just to save 10 cents on a can of beans or buy a generic loaf of wheat-colored bread.

 

[rock_doctor]

I have only been in one Aldi store and it was a DUMP. I am not inclined to drive almost 20 miles to check out the one closest to me now just to save 10 cents on a can of beans or buy a generic loaf of wheat-colored bread.

Write a quick letter to the home office and you will see how fast it is cleaned up. Unfortunately, how good a store is, is directly dependent on how good the manager is...

We do all of our shopping at Aldi and spend about $250 a month (family of three, were big eaters ) on food which is considerably less then what shopping in a normal store would cost. The food is ok not high end quality but definitely worth the money. Now if you want high end they have that also but we don't go there... The store is actually a chain from a German company that is similar to walmart here in the US. So it is actually a big company. My suggestion is to shop there and see how much you save in the long run. Personally, i think the food is quite good and rarely have quality concerns. Plus a half gal of ice cream is actually a half gallon and a can of cake icing is a full can of cake icing...

 

[kydisneyfans]

I shopped Aldi alot last summer when milk dropped to .99 a gallon, I hadn't seen that price since the 80s. I haven't been there for awhile as the prices went up and are no cheaper than the competition. My quick trip in last week to compare prices showed no difference or a higher price than Meijer/Kroger.

Milk-1.99 Aldi-2.00 Meijer
Grapes-2.49 2 lbs, Aldi, .87 per pound Meijer
Yogurt-.39 Aldi-10 for $4 (yoplait)-with another $1 off after coupon
Apple juice-1.39 Aldi-.99 Kroger
Pasta-1.69 2 lbs Aldi-.79 Kroger this week Creamette, .88 Barilla last week
Cheese-1 lb block-3.29 Aldi, 1.99 Meijer

There are parts of the country where Aldi is much cheaper than the competition. That isn't the fact around here.